Reorganization of tactile perception following the simulated amputation of one finger

Abstract

The tactile counterpart of diplopia has recently been described: tactile diplopia or diplesthesia. The human fingers show a rather precise organization of the cutaneous areas eliciting diplesthesia. In particular, these areas are very extensive between nonadjacent fingers (second and fourth, second and fifth, and third and fifth), suggesting that the illusory doubling depends on the lack of reciprocal interaction between cutaneous zones during manipulation. In the present study, four subjects agreed to explore and manipulate objects only through nonadjacent fingers for a period of up to six months. The amputation of the third finger was simulated by excluding it from active exploration by means of a bandage. After six months, the diplesthetic areas of the nonadjacent fingers decreased in size or completely disappeared. It is suggested that this reorganization of tactile perception is due to the increase in temporal correlation of the sensory inputs between nonadjacent fingers.